Start seeds very early indoors. Patterson stores 10-12+ months.

Direct sow as soon as soil is workable; handles light spring frosts.

Cold-hardy; great for continuous early cuts before heat sets in.

25-30 day turnaround; good for fast row intercropping.

Direct sow or start plugs; harvest outer leaves continuously.

Exceptionally frost-tolerant; sweetens with fall frost.

Extremely productive spring through hard frost; cut-and-come-again.

Reliable spring-to-summer transition crop.

Mulch well to keep roots cool and prevent early buttoning.

Storage types (Bolero, Bangor) need loose, well-draining soil.

Thinnings make tender salad greens.

Plant seed pieces 4in deep; hill soil as green growth rises.

Slicers/heirlooms — sturdy cages or trellises required.

Sun Gold and Juliet are high-yield, crack-resistant standards.

Dense flesh for sauces; San Marzano and Roma VF yield heavily.

Excel in containers, on blacktop, or 2 per cage for warmth/shade.

Use bottom heat mats for germination.

Sow once soil is reliably warm (60°F+).

Trellis 6-8ft; heavy producers until first hard frost.

Plant in blocks (min. 4x4 grid), not single rows, for pollination.

Trellis vines for straight, clean fruit.

Choose PM-resistant types (Green Machine) to avoid late mildew.

Butterbush is compact and quick-ripening; cure in sun before storage.

New England Pie and Sugar Baby bred for dense, non-stringy flesh.

Needs 50-100 sq ft per hill.

Long season (100+ days); harvest after first light frost and cure indoors.

Plant into black plastic mulch/fabric to raise root temps 5-10°F.

Blacktail Mountain is bred for cold nights and short summers.

Earli-Dew matures 2-3 weeks faster than standard honeydew.